Saint Felix IV, (died Sept. 22, 530, Rome; feast day January 30) pope from 526 to 530. He was elected on July 12 as the choice of Theodoric the Great, king of the Ostrogoths, who had imprisoned Felix’ predecessor, St. John I, and who died shortly after Felix’ consecration. The new pope ended the controversy over grace at the second Council of Orange (529) by condemning Semi-Pelagianism, which maintained that the beginning of faith results from human effort rather than grace (seeOrange, councils of; Semi-Pelagianism). Felix converted a pagan temple at Rome into the Church of SS. Cosmas and Damian. To avoid a disputed succession, Felix named the archdeacon Boniface (Pope Boniface II) as his successor.

Felix IV, detail from a mosaic, 6th century; in the Church of SS. Cosmas and Damian, Rome

Alinari—Art Resource/EB Inc.

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